Mei, I Absolutely Won't Let Go (Continued)

"But actually... I quite like this."

"Hm?"

"I feel like I'm becoming more and more like a human." Elysia couldn't help but snuggle deeper into Xu Qi's arms.

Xu Qi chuckled softly.

"What nonsense are you talking about? You were a human to begin with, weren't you?"

"Mm, Xu Qi, you're right... The current me has love, hatred, and even emotions like envy.

Even now, the guilt I feel toward Mei keeps colliding with my feelings for you. But I still love you so much, so... I can only carry this painful guilt and continue being with you."

Xu Qi couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

"You make it sound as if we're having an affair."

Elysia raised her head, her innocent eyes blinking repeatedly. Then she suddenly gave him a mischievous grin. "Oh, Xu Qi... So you admit that you want to have two-timed after all?"

"You two are both my wings."

"Is it really appropriate to use an anime reference at a time like this?"

Holding Elysia tightly in his arms, Xu Qi couldn't help chuckling.

"But didn't things turn out pretty well? A world where no one gets hurt. Isn't that right?"

"You're the one benefiting."

"How does this count as benefiting me..." Xu Qi lowered his head and kissed Elysia's forehead, breathing in the delicate fragrance of the girl's hair.

"But you're right, Elysia. I'm doing something insatiably greedy."

"Good that you know. I can let it go, but you... Have you thought about how to tell Mei about this?"

Xu Qi suddenly fell silent.

"If you can't do it, then I'll do it."

Xu Qi was startled and had just been about to say something, but when he saw the teasing look in Elysia's eyes, he quickly shut his mouth. Instead, he stroked her back ingratiatingly and whispered beside her slightly pointed ear,

"How do you want to do it?"

"Girls have our own ways. I'll make sure she can accept all this. It's just that... Xu Qi, if we do this, we'll owe Mei far, far too much."

Seeing Xu Qi fall silent, Elysia reluctantly wrapped both arms around his neck and murmured,

"It's my fault... I was the one who tempted you into making these mistakes. By the time I realized how much I liked you, everything was already too late."

"Do you really think that, at this point, this mistake could still be one-sided?"

"Actually, we can look at it from a different angle."

Xu Qi raised an eyebrow. He instinctively felt that Elysia was about to say something shocking.

"Just treat this as a rehearsal."

"A rehearsal?"

"Of course! You and Mei are both dating for the first time, right? There are bound to be things you don't do well enough. Since that's the case..." Elysia lifted her head and said with a beaming smile, "I'll make a special exception and let you use me as your practice partner."

"Elysia."

"Mm?"

"Do you know what happened to the last person who did that?"

"Only his head was left, and someone carried it while lying on a ship."

"So you do know..."

"But my Xu Qi..." Elysia reached out and caressed Xu Qi's cheek. The love on her face was unmistakably human, and yet he could feel it so clearly from Elysia.

"You would never be irresponsible, and you'd never choose to let go either. Am I right?"

"You really do understand me..."

But there was no denying that Elysia was right.

Embracing Elysia had indeed been an impulse, but after doing so, Xu Qi could never let go. He would not give up on Mei, nor would he give up on Elysia.

Even if Mei couldn't accept it and insisted on leaving, Xu Qi would do everything he could to win her back.

He was an insatiably greedy person, and even more than that, he was selfish.

"But don't rush, my little Qi."

"I feel like the way you address me is getting more and more outrageous."

"Does it? That must be your imagination~~ Anyway, these things have to happen gradually. You can't let Mei know right now. A lot of things need to be cultivated slowly."

Xu Qi frowned. He was a straightforward person, and he felt that he shouldn't deceive Mei.

"This isn't deception. It's protecting her. You don't want Mei to be unable to accept all this and break up with you, do you?"

Elysia's words broke through Xu Qi's defenses.

"Anyway, leave this to me. When the time is right, we'll let Mei know everything."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

Elysia's eyes shifted, and she said slyly, "I'll reluctantly be the mistress."

"Why do I feel like you're enjoying this?"

"Do I?~~ I don't think so. This is the first time I've done something I know is wrong, yet can't bring myself to stop, and it's just like..."

Xu Qi raised an eyebrow. The hand that had originally been resting on Elysia's back gradually began to wander.

It slowly moved downward, stroking her back through the silk pajamas, and finally stopped at Elysia's waist. Elysia naturally noticed Xu Qi's wandering hand.

But... her face merely grew a little redder, and she made no other move.

"Like an honest, well-behaved child suddenly doing something wrong, only to discover... that it actually feels pretty good, right?"

"Y-Yes... I suppose so..."

Pink Elf Lady's gaze began to wander. She wanted to stop him, but had no reason to.

After all, even Elysia herself had said that she could be... Xu Qi's test subject.

Xu Qi moved forward a little more. Elysia's already ample breasts pressed and shifted against his body.

Xu Qi could even feel two raised points teasing his heartstrings.

"I think I really have corrupted you, Elysia."

"What if there's another possibility?" Elysia suddenly steadied herself and looked at Xu Qi provocatively. "What if that innocence and romanticism are merely what I show other people?"

"Then what are you really like?"

"Perhaps I'm a bad woman at heart?"

The hand resting at her waist began moving downward again. Xu Qi had long since noticed her curvy figure, and Elysia's rear... was truly perfect.

"Perhaps I've wanted to try it for a long time... I've experienced human innocence and beauty, so there's no reason I shouldn't experience human depravity and malice as well."

Xu Qi was already used to the way Elysia spoke, as if she were viewing things from a nonhuman perspective.

He couldn't help teasing her. "You? Malice? Show me some."

Elysia narrowed her eyes. Then she suddenly raised her head and shifted upward, biting down hard on Xu Qi's lips with a fierce expression.

The sudden attack left even Xu Qi stunned.

His hand stopped moving for a moment, and he simply sat there blankly, allowing Elysia to claim the strange sensation called a "kiss" from his lips.

But unfortunately... she was still an inexperienced little lamb. No matter how fierce she tried to look, she couldn't conceal her innocent nature.

See? The kiss had started out looking vicious, but the moment their lips met, it quickly became soft and powerless.

This was perhaps the boldest thing Elysia had ever done. She gently bit Xu Qi's lips, then had no idea what to do next.

Her slightly bewildered expression made Xu Qi, who had recovered from his surprise, feel an impulse to laugh.

If you don't know how to kiss, then don't kiss me.

Let me teach you...

This perhaps held an unusually special meaning for Xu Qi. In his own home, on his own bed, he was with Elysia... with the girl he had long harbored feelings for but never dared to reach for.

The two of them both lost themselves in the moment.

They didn't even notice when Elysia's clothes had become half-disheveled.

The girl could no longer hold back the faint sounds escaping her lips.

It seemed she was expressing her satisfaction.

However...

"Bzzzt!~~ Bzzzt!~~"

Xu Qi's phone suddenly rang on the bedside table, instantly bringing the two of them, who had been lost in passion, back to their senses.

They stared blankly at each other, then quickly separated!

Xu Qi went to the bedside to answer the call, while Elysia shyly straightened her clothes.

To be honest... they had been quite absorbed in what they were doing, so much so that she still hadn't fully recovered.

"Hello? Mei?"

Hearing the name Xu Qi mentioned, Elysia couldn't help perking up her ears. As expected, it's Mei... I feel like the official girlfriend caught us...

"Xu Qi... I miss you."

Hearing the coquettish voice coming from Mei over the phone, Xu Qi's entire demeanor seemed to soften.

This girl is always so direct. Ever since becoming my girlfriend, she apparently forgot how to write the word "subtle." But that was precisely what moved Xu Qi the most.

"Mm, I miss you too."

"If you miss me, why didn't you call me?"

"Wasn't I worried about disturbing you? When I took part in that competition, I kept my phone turned off the entire time."

"That's because you hadn't met me back then."

That was certainly true.

"Why did you have time to call me?"

"I miss you."

What should I do? I feel like Mei has completely captured my heart.

"What about you? Are you at the Golden Courtyard?"

Xu Qi had originally wanted to say that his father had broken his foot and that he was currently home keeping him company.

But then he thought that if he really said that, Mei would probably worry again. After considering it, he decided not to tell her and instead said, "Mm, that's right. Once things are over on your end, I'll go pick you up."

"Mm-hm! You have to come pick me up! Otherwise... I'm not coming back!"

The girl's youthful words made Xu Qi smile warmly.

"Then I won't disturb your rest. Go to sleep early. Bye-bye."

"Mm, bye."

After the call ended, Xu Qi let out a long breath. The desire that had been stirred up earlier had completely vanished.

Watching Xu Qi's eyes gradually clear, Elysia couldn't help smiling to herself. As expected, Mei holds such a tremendously important place in Xu Qi's heart...

Sitting on the bed and embracing Xu Qi from behind, Elysia said calmly, "That was Mei, right?"